Advice for cleaning filter sock

[bosworth]

Does anyone have advice on how to THOROUGHLY clean a filter sock? I was considering using a washing machine but was worried about residual soap. I've tried just rinsing it out but that doesn't seem to get everything out.

 

[ChickenCannoneer]

What I have done for the last few years is run the washing machine once without any soap or anything in it to rinse. Then place filter socks in and run with hot water and add a little bleach. Hang up to dry overnight and you are good as new. HTH, Tim

 

[bosworth]

thx

 

[EllieSuz]

Each time I replace a sock, I spray the debris inside and out with tap water. Then I soak it in a bucket of hot water with a splash of bleach. Let it sit a couple of hours, rinse well and hang to dry. Bleach evaporates, but I always give the sock three days dry before using it again.

 

[Old Crusty]

I have done what chicken has done with no problems and socks came out perfect

 

[johndawg]

My wife would want me to sanitize the washing machine after doing that

 

[funkyman]

Mine too.

 

[bosworth]

I think I'll try it today while my wife is at work!

 

[Python73]

Washing machine for sure, hot water / small load / splash of bleach. I don't run a full cycle (which typically does multiple fill/spin/rinse deals) but I run a second rinse after it finishes. I generally wait to have several dirty filter socks and do them all at once.

S !

 

[itZme]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12140307#post12140307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChickenCannoneer
What I have done for the last few years is run the washing machine once without any soap or anything in it to rinse. Then place filter socks in and run with hot water and add a little bleach. Hang up to dry overnight and you are good as new. HTH, Tim

Not very eco-friendly you guys . I thought you were all tree-huggers out there.
An average top-loading washing machine uses 50 gallons of water per load. Front loaders about 20 gallons. Sounds like running 2 loads for a few filter socks may be overkill when you can flip them inside out and rinse in a bucket with bleach water like EllieSuz said and use less than 5 gallons and not worry a bit about residue.

 

[ChickenCannoneer]

Yeah well Kevin, the environment can take that extra bleach water. I like to think of it as watering all the trees and plants. I feel like I am doing my part to make sure the environment gets sterilized.







:lol:

 

[kimberfish]

most ALL washers have a load setting size too. If you put it on mini setting it uses a LOT less water
and if you wanna be green fill your washer from your waste water line off your ro/di...it's still great water for washing

 

[bosworth]

Not to worry I have a fancy front load w/ load sensing technology. It used a very small amount of water. I did a bleach presoak prior to running and now it looks brandnew. I worked great thanks guys!

 

[itZme]

Good news bosworth. Hope everyone knows I am just giving you a rough time. I know you all don't want to hurt the environment. Even when driving your gas-guzzling SUVs for 90 minutes each way to pick up a "tank raised clownfish" or an "aquacultured coral" from Vermilion.
:thumbsup:

We actually purchased a front loader last summer and I have seen our water usage go down by 8,000 gallons per quarter! (we pay utilities quarterly here)
We have 5 people in the house and do an average of 2-3 loads per day as well as averaging 4 or 5 showers daily between us. I installed new shower heads with flow restriction at the same time as the new washer/dryer purchase so I know it adds up.

 

[sohal1025]

Some say their wife wants to sanitize the washing mach. after a sock washing...
I would rather sanitize the washer before I wash a filter sock.........Ya Know???

 

[Dtip]

"and if you wanna be green fill your washer from your waste water line off your ro/di...it's still great water for washing"

I've heard that while this waste water is great for plants, it could cause problems if used in this fashion because the higher than normal mineral content can reduce the life of the washer (build up clogging things).

I'm not sure if I believe this though. My waste TDS is only 140ppm compared to my input tap water, at 114ppm... not a huge difference and still nowhere near as bad as some people's tap water. Of course, the actual contents of what makes up that TDS reading could vary quite a bit in proportion... but still.

Anyhow, it really is a great way to put all that extra water to use at least in theory, especially since many fish rooms double as laundry rooms anyway. I've been doing it without any problems so far.